Basement Yeti
Explorer
I've got insurance lined up, temp tags lined up, and I'm pretty darn close to having a final plan for the interior. Just working on getting my things into storage and making a pile of things that are headed to CO with me.
Not Expo, but my new van.
- Thread starter Basement Yeti
- Start date
Basement Yeti
Explorer
Well I am an idiot. Looking at photos of the van it has no cruise control. Annoying to me, catastrophic to my mom if she needs to drive it. She can't use her feet for extended periods of time to control the pedals, which is why she sold her Subaru, busted cruise.
Guess I am going to have to order a steering column w/ tilt and cruise control and a cruise control module, $150.00 from eBay. Hopefully not too hard to do.
Guess I am going to have to order a steering column w/ tilt and cruise control and a cruise control module, $150.00 from eBay. Hopefully not too hard to do.
Basement Yeti
Explorer
Got Winzig today. She's a good van, rides decently, runs OK. Her new owner hasn't taken good care of her, but I guess he doesn't know much about cars. Her coolant is low, her blown stock shocks make for a rough ride, and she has a seeping oil pan gasket. The pop top was installed by Safari Condo but the original and first owner installed his own work van stuff, it's heavy, and loud, and annoys me. The plus side of this crap is it was installed right after he got the van in 2002 so the interior is in immaculate condition under the wood, looks factory.
The canvas is a bit grimy but that shouldn't be difficult to clean. The roof has some metal rails on it for carrying work materials I guess?
Also she has no cruise control or tilt steering.
All of these are not big issues and she actually has a nice stereo and runs pretty good, with a bit of elbow grease she'll be a real gem.
Seeping gasket. When the oil is cooler it's thick and viscous, doesn't seep. When it's been run for an hour or so it weeps a little. When it gets really hot it will drip a somewhat moderate puddle until the oil cools again. Nothing alarming. I will check her oil tomorrow an keep 1 quart on hand just in case. ihatemybike and I will be repairing this the middle of April when I am up that way, or I will have it done in San Diego. Probably the former since it is not severe. The oil looks fresh, I think he had it changed. Looks worse than it is. Trust me.
It's loud and noisy, and it smells like wet skunk, the only pro is it's protected the interior metal. It has nice speakers, but that's it. It's gotta go.
I'll be finalizing my transaction with Colorado Camper Van tomorrow. I am very excited. Derek will be insulating and paneling the interior, building me a kitchen with a hand pump sink, 2 burner stove. He'll also be setting up a propane system complete with LP/CO alarm. I think I might have him redo the upper bunk too.
I'll use a cooler for now and I am not going with a catalytic heater because I'll get a propex heater before next winter.
I'll be installing my solar with Diehard batteries and a Fantastic-Fan. Plus removing the roof rails, and doing the mechanical work, including shocks.
It begins.
-Kyle
The canvas is a bit grimy but that shouldn't be difficult to clean. The roof has some metal rails on it for carrying work materials I guess?
Also she has no cruise control or tilt steering.
All of these are not big issues and she actually has a nice stereo and runs pretty good, with a bit of elbow grease she'll be a real gem.
Seeping gasket. When the oil is cooler it's thick and viscous, doesn't seep. When it's been run for an hour or so it weeps a little. When it gets really hot it will drip a somewhat moderate puddle until the oil cools again. Nothing alarming. I will check her oil tomorrow an keep 1 quart on hand just in case. ihatemybike and I will be repairing this the middle of April when I am up that way, or I will have it done in San Diego. Probably the former since it is not severe. The oil looks fresh, I think he had it changed. Looks worse than it is. Trust me.
It's loud and noisy, and it smells like wet skunk, the only pro is it's protected the interior metal. It has nice speakers, but that's it. It's gotta go.
I'll be finalizing my transaction with Colorado Camper Van tomorrow. I am very excited. Derek will be insulating and paneling the interior, building me a kitchen with a hand pump sink, 2 burner stove. He'll also be setting up a propane system complete with LP/CO alarm. I think I might have him redo the upper bunk too.
I'll use a cooler for now and I am not going with a catalytic heater because I'll get a propex heater before next winter.
I'll be installing my solar with Diehard batteries and a Fantastic-Fan. Plus removing the roof rails, and doing the mechanical work, including shocks.
It begins.
-Kyle
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Funny coincidence I was parked right next to another safari-condo converted Astro today in Truckee (Tahoe).
Basement Yeti
Explorer
Cool! Did you take pics?
A bit of spit and polish and my girl Winzig will be sitting pretty. :snorkel: I'm already thinking I want to tape off those exterior steel trimmings on the windows and paint them white until I convert it to a pop out passenger van window, along with the two back ones and sliding doors, then there is some gunk from velcro and levels that need goo-goneing, I might replace the center dash piece of ihatemybike will let me take it off his parts van, along with tilt steering and cruise control. Then I think a good steam cleaning is in order.
-Kyle
A bit of spit and polish and my girl Winzig will be sitting pretty. :snorkel: I'm already thinking I want to tape off those exterior steel trimmings on the windows and paint them white until I convert it to a pop out passenger van window, along with the two back ones and sliding doors, then there is some gunk from velcro and levels that need goo-goneing, I might replace the center dash piece of ihatemybike will let me take it off his parts van, along with tilt steering and cruise control. Then I think a good steam cleaning is in order.
-Kyle
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ihatemybike
Explorer
Dude, you mis-spelled the name twice. It was Winzling.
Bonus points for anyone, besides Kyle and I, for knowing where the name came from and why it relates to Kyle's new van.
Bonus points for anyone, besides Kyle and I, for knowing where the name came from and why it relates to Kyle's new van.
Basement Yeti
Explorer
Oops, Winzling. My bad.
-Kyle
-Kyle
ihatemybike
Explorer
Does kinda sound like a sherpa's name, but incorrect.
Basement Yeti
Explorer
I got stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint 45 minutes East of San Diego. Their drug dog smelled drugs in Winzling. They spent nearly 2 hours X-Raying and searching my van, and grilling me about my phantom drugs.
After 2 hours they finally gave up.
I did get the van home with no issues though, besides aforementioned.
She runs great, she is good on gas, and I discovered a few secrets about my purchase. I didn't have time to take pics cause of my Border Patrol super happy fun time but I will take some tomorrow or Thursday. Then I need to beat feat to Colorado to get the conversion done.
I am bringing her to the mechanic tomorrow to make sure the oil leak isn't severe, an nothing is majorly wrong. Winzling means teeny tiny, small, or petite in German.
Until then.
-Kyle
Winzling is the name of the racing snail rider in The Never Ending Story. The logo for Safari Condo is a snail. Plus I drive slow. It's kind of an offhanded remark about her size compared to a full size van and a full size camper too.
After 2 hours they finally gave up.
I did get the van home with no issues though, besides aforementioned.
She runs great, she is good on gas, and I discovered a few secrets about my purchase. I didn't have time to take pics cause of my Border Patrol super happy fun time but I will take some tomorrow or Thursday. Then I need to beat feat to Colorado to get the conversion done.
I am bringing her to the mechanic tomorrow to make sure the oil leak isn't severe, an nothing is majorly wrong. Winzling means teeny tiny, small, or petite in German.
Until then.
-Kyle
Winzling is the name of the racing snail rider in The Never Ending Story. The logo for Safari Condo is a snail. Plus I drive slow. It's kind of an offhanded remark about her size compared to a full size van and a full size camper too.
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Basement Yeti
Explorer
I brought Winzling to the mechanic today. They are really great dudes. I've never once had an issue with them, nor has my sister or brother-in-law. Whenever I question the price or part they hammer it all out in explicit detail for me.
Anyway the oil pan gasket is leaking, as well as one of the oil lines. Just by fiddling with it to inspect it before the test drive it began to dribble at pressure. Chances are it would have gone on my way to Colorado.
So I told them to repair it verses me dealing with it on the road.
They also found out she is on old spark plugs, but I decided to wait to get to ihatemybike's in 3 weeks.
We were surprised to find out she had brand new shocks all around, not sure of the brand yet. I also discovered the handy owner made his own swivel seat. She also has a full size spare, OEM wheel and all. It has a pretty nice stereo headset too, but the AUX won't work, so I need to sort that out before my road trip to Colorado.
Speaking of which Derek and I are this close to settling on an a plan. I just need a proper invoice for my insurance records and we should be good. I should have a deposit to him by tomorrow and be on the road to Colorado Friday AM.
-Kyle
Anyway the oil pan gasket is leaking, as well as one of the oil lines. Just by fiddling with it to inspect it before the test drive it began to dribble at pressure. Chances are it would have gone on my way to Colorado.
So I told them to repair it verses me dealing with it on the road.
They also found out she is on old spark plugs, but I decided to wait to get to ihatemybike's in 3 weeks.
We were surprised to find out she had brand new shocks all around, not sure of the brand yet. I also discovered the handy owner made his own swivel seat. She also has a full size spare, OEM wheel and all. It has a pretty nice stereo headset too, but the AUX won't work, so I need to sort that out before my road trip to Colorado.
Speaking of which Derek and I are this close to settling on an a plan. I just need a proper invoice for my insurance records and we should be good. I should have a deposit to him by tomorrow and be on the road to Colorado Friday AM.
-Kyle
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Basement Yeti
Explorer
Thanks man. Derek has been great to talk to. I am really excited to get Winzy out there, gutted, and spruced up a bit.
By the way, I ratted my neighbors out for using the garage on the property as a drug house a few months ago and they pretty much hate me and have been harassing me to the point where I carry a stung gun now. I was certain if they found out the van was mine they'd vandalize it, because they did that to another neighbor, so I asked my mechanic if they'd hold my van for a fee and they said they'd hold her for free until I leave Friday, nice dudes.
Tomorrow is laundry day and I'll shuttle some crap to storage so I only have to pick my camping stuff up before I head out on Friday.
Mom insists I replace my dumb phone with a smart phone with internet and unlimited talk and text, I am having trouble justify the initial up front cost.
I should have taken some more pics of the van but when I stop for a rest on Friday in the middle of the day I can take some before photos of the van.
-Kyle
By the way, I ratted my neighbors out for using the garage on the property as a drug house a few months ago and they pretty much hate me and have been harassing me to the point where I carry a stung gun now. I was certain if they found out the van was mine they'd vandalize it, because they did that to another neighbor, so I asked my mechanic if they'd hold my van for a fee and they said they'd hold her for free until I leave Friday, nice dudes.
Tomorrow is laundry day and I'll shuttle some crap to storage so I only have to pick my camping stuff up before I head out on Friday.
Mom insists I replace my dumb phone with a smart phone with internet and unlimited talk and text, I am having trouble justify the initial up front cost.
I should have taken some more pics of the van but when I stop for a rest on Friday in the middle of the day I can take some before photos of the van.
-Kyle
Basement Yeti
Explorer
Got my quote from Derek, deposit made, off to Colorado tomorrow after I had my apartment keys off to my land lady!
Woohoo!
-Kyle
Woohoo!
-Kyle